Jan. 17, 2002

Equine MedicineGenevieve L. FontaineEquine Extension VeterinarianUniversity of Florida

Jan. 17, 2002

Equine Health

Physical examination

Problems and common diseases associated with clinical signs

Overview of diagnosis and treatment

Jan. 17, 2002

Examination

From a distance:– Attitude– Posture– Body condition– Symmetry– Integument

Jan. 17, 2002

Attitude

Depressed attitude:

– Pain

– Weakness

– Cerebral dysfunction

Jan. 17, 2002

Attitude

Abnormal behavior: – cerebral dysfunction:

Hepato-encephalopathy

Encephalitis: EEE, WEE, VEE, WNV, rabies

Brain lesion

Jan. 17, 2002

Attitude

Colic:– Mostly associated with

gastro-intestinal problems

Jan. 17, 2002

Posture

Musculoskeletal problem– laminitis

Jan. 17, 2002

Posture

Neurologic disease Spinal cord dysfunction:

– Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis:Sarcocystis neurona

– Cervical Vertebral Malformation (Wobbler Syndrome)

Jan. 17, 2002

Posture

Neuromuscular disease Tetanus: Cl. Tetani

– Sawhorse stance

– Hyperreactivity

– Hx of wound

Botulism: Cl. Botulinum– Forage poisoning

– Toxicoinfectious

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss or failure to thrive Malnutrition

Teeth problems

Parasitism

Chronic infection

Neoplasia

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss or failure to thrive Teeth problems

– Common in older horses

– Due to diet and conformation of dental arcades

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss or failure to thrive Teeth problems

– Common in older horses

– Due to diet and conformation of dental arcades

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss or failure to thrive Teeth problems

– Common in older horses

– Due to diet and conformation of dental arcades

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss or failure to thrive Parasitism

– Ascarids in foals– Small strongyles in

adults– Also a cause of

poor hair coat, lethargy, and colic

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss or failure to thrive Chronic infection:

– Abdominal abscess

R. equi

Strangles (S.equi)

Jan. 17, 2002

Body Condition

Weight loss orfailure to thrive Neoplasia:

lymphosarcoma

Liver disease

Renal disease

Heart failure

Jan. 17, 2002

Symmetry

Muscle mass evaluation Atrophy:

– Disuse: chronic pain

– Neurogenic:

nerve dysfunction: EPM

– Trauma

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Abnormal hair Hirsutism:

– Pituitary adenoma:

Older horses

PU/PD

Chronic laminitis

Recurrent infections

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Granulomatous lesions

Habronemiasis

Sarcoid

Squamous cell

carcinoma

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Granulomatous lesions

Habronemiasis

Sarcoid

Squamous cell

carcinoma

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Granulomatous lesions

Habronemiasis

Sarcoid

Squamous cell

carcinoma

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Nodular lesions Melanoma Nodular granulomaAlopecic lesions Culicoides

hypersensitivity Dermatophilosis Dermatophytosis

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Nodular lesions Melanoma Nodular granulomaAlopecic lesions Culicoides

hypersensitivity Dermatophilosis Dermatophytosis

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Nodular lesions Melanoma Nodular granulomaAlopecic lesions Culicoides

hypersensitivity Dermatophilosis Dermatophytosis

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Nodular lesions Melanoma Nodular granulomaAlopecic lesions Culicoides

hypersensitivity Dermatophilosis Dermatophytosis

Jan. 17, 2002

Integument

Nodular lesions Melanoma Nodular granulomaAlopecic lesions Culicoides

hypersensitivity Dermatophilosis Dermatophytosis

Jan. 17, 2002

Examination

Head and Neck Thorax Abdomen Genitalia Limbs Gait

Jan. 17, 2002

Head

Symmetry of the face: Deformities:

– Sinusitis: Older horse

Infected tooth root

– Sinus cyst: Young horse

Not infectious

Jan. 17, 2002

Head

Cranial nerve examination Facial paralysis:

– Drooped ear, eyelid, deviated muzzle

– EPM, trauma

Vestibular syndrome:– Head tilt, nystagmus– THO

Jan. 17, 2002

Head

Cranial nerve examination Facial paralysis:

– Drooped ear, eyelid, deviated muzzle

– EPM, trauma

Vestibular syndrome:– Head tilt, nystagmus– THO

Jan. 17, 2002

Eyes

Size:– Glaucoma– Phtysis

Ocular discharge– Obstructed naso-

lacrymal ducts

Jan. 17, 2002

Eyes

Cornea: Ulcers

Recurrent uveitis: Photophobia,

epiphora Blindness Leptospira

Jan. 17, 2002

Nose

Nostril size FlareAirflow Volume Odor Noise

Nasal discharge– Uni vs Bilateral– Mucus– Pus– Blood – Food

Jan. 17, 2002

Nose

Unilateral discharge:

– Nasal passage, ethmoid

region, guttural pouch

Bilateral discharge:

– Guttural pouch if

abundant

– Trachea, lungs

Jan. 17, 2002

Nose

Serous, mucous, bilateral: Viral infection:

– Flu, EHV 4

Allergy: COPD

Purulent: unilateral: Sinusitis Guttural pouch infection:

S. equi equi

Jan. 17, 2002

Nose

Purulent, bilateral:

Pneumonia:

– Pleuro-pneumonia in

adults after shipping

– Rhodococcus equi in

foals

Jan. 17, 2002

Nose

Blood, unilateral: Trauma Ethmoid hematoma Guttural pouch mycosisBlood, bilateral: Exercise induced

pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH)

Jan. 17, 2002

Nose

Alimentary discharge: Esophageal

obstruction– Pelleted food

Gastric reflux– Colic

Dysphagia– Cranial nerve

dysfunction

Jan. 17, 2002

Mouth

Mucous membranes

Pale: anemia

– Chronic disease

– GI parasitism

– Blood loss

– Immune-mediated

– EIA

Jan. 17, 2002

Mouth

Mucous membranes

Injected:

– Endotoxemia

GI disease

pneumonia

metritis

Jan. 17, 2002

Mouth

Mucous membranes

Icteric:

– Anorexia

– Liver disease:

Serum hepatitis

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid

toxicosis

Cholelithiasis

Jan. 17, 2002

Lymph nodes

Enlargement: Young horses First exposure to

pathogens

Abscess:– Strangles (S. equi

equi)

Jan. 17, 2002

Neck

Jugular phlebitis Following IV injection

or catheter

Hypercoagulable states:– Endotoxemia

– DIC

Jan. 17, 2002

Thorax

Bacterial pneumonia

Adults: often with

pleuritis

– Hx of shipping

– Multi bacterial

– Anaerobes

Jan. 17, 2002

Thorax

Bacterial pneumonia Foals:

– R. equi: Multiple abscesses Endemic on some

farms

– S. zooepidemicus: Opportunistic in

neonates

Jan. 17, 2002

Thorax

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

COPD or heaves > 5 y/o, stabled Expiratory effort Excessive pulmonary

reactivity to airborne allergens (hay dust)

Structural changes in lung with time

Jan. 17, 2002

Heart

Congenital defects: VSDAcquired Mitral regurgitation Tricuspid regurgitation Aortic insufficiency:

– Older horses

Jan. 17, 2002

Heart

Arrythmia 2nd degree AV block

– High vagal tone due to heart size

Atrial fibrillation– Most common arrythmia of athletes– Conversion more successful if no

underlying cardiac pathology

Jan. 17, 2002

Heart

Ionophore toxicity Cardiomyopathy Contamination with

cattle feed Signs within 12h of

ingestion Colic, weakness,

sweating, ataxia

Jan. 17, 2002

Abdomen

Colic = abdominal pain Workup:

– Physical examination– Naso-gastric intubation– Rectal palpation– Abdominal paracentesis– Ultrasound, radiographs, gastroscopy

Jan. 17, 2002

Abdomen

Colic Medical colic

– Impaction– Ulcers – Gas colic– Proximal enteritis: large

amounts of gastric reflux

Jan. 17, 2002

Abdomen

Colic Surgical colic

– Displacement

– Torsion

– Infarction

– Obstruction

– Intussusception

Jan. 17, 2002

Abdomen

Diarrhea

Adults: salmonellosis, Potomac Horse

Fever, Cl. Perfringens

Foals: foal heat diarrhea, parasites,

E. coli, Cl. perfringens, rotavirus,

salmonellosis

Jan. 17, 2002

Abdomen

Diseases of the urinary tract Cystitis, pyelonephritis: 2nd to urinary

stasis or bladder injury ARF: toxic (aminoglycosides, NSAIDS,

blister beetle, myoglobin) and hemodynamic

CRF: older horses: weight loss

Jan. 17, 2002

Gait

Ataxia: Not to be confused with weakness or

stiffness Proprioceptive deficit EPM, Wobbler, viral encephalitis (EEE,

WEE, VEE, WNV, EHV-1, rabies), EDM, trauma

Jan. 17, 2002

Gait

Stiffness DJD, arthritis: older horses Rhabdomyolysis:

– Chronic Intermittent Rhabdomyolysis– Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy– White Muscle Disease (foals)

Jan. 17, 2002

Pediatrics

Failure of Passive Transfer

Septicemia Neonatal

Maladjustment Syndrome

Meconium impaction Neonatal

Isoerythrolysis Bladder rupture